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The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse
The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
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“Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.
EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.
A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.
The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.
For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse is here in full — 95 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.
Line 2
EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.
Line 3
A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.
/ə ˈwʊmən ɪn fræns ɡɑːt ðə ˈspaɪnəl dɪˈziːz ənd frʌm ðæt sæd ˈmoʊmənt ʃiː hæd noʊ mɔːr iːz tuː æd tuː hɜːr ˈæŋɡwɪʃ ʃiː ˈveri suːn faʊnd oʊ ˈhɔːrərz hɜːr bæk wɑːz bɪˈkʌmɪŋ kwaɪt raʊnd/
Line 4
The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.
/ðə ˈspæzəmz ʌv ˈfɪzɪkəl peɪn ʃiː enˈdjʊrd wɜːr kiːn aɪ əˈʃʊr juː ənd kʊd nɑːt biː kjʊrd bʌt bæd æz ðiːz wɜːr ɪt siːmz ɑːn ðə hoʊl ðeɪ kʊd nɑːt kəmˈper wɪð ðə pæŋz ʌv hɜːr soʊl/
Line 5
For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

Clerk's noun US /klɜːrks/

possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

execrable adjective US /ˌeɡˈzekrəbəl/

of very poor quality or condition

From this reading ““Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.”

Fashion's noun US /ˈfæʃənz/

possessive form of “fashion” — how something is done or how it happens

grecian adjective US /ˈɡriːʃən/

of or relating to or characteristic of Greece or the Greeks or the Greek language

From this reading “EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.”

printer noun US /ˈprɪntər/

someone whose occupation is printing

spasms noun US /ˈspæzəmz/

plural of “spasm” — a painful and involuntary muscular contraction

From this reading “The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.”

spinal noun US /ˈspaɪnəl/

anesthesia of the lower half of the body; caused by injury to the spinal cord or by injecting an anesthetic beneath the arachnoid membrane that surrounds the spinal cord

From this reading “A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.”

stylish adjective US /ˈstaɪlɪʃ/

having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress

From this reading “For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

physical pain adjective + noun

In this reading “The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.”

compare with verb + particle

In this reading “The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.”

dear reader adjective + noun

In this reading “For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.”

Act of verb + particle

In this reading ““Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.”

All words in this reading · 117

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1868

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

20

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

ActverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

addverbUS /æd/

make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

anguishnounUS /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/

extreme mental distress

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

assureverbUS /əˈʃʊr/

make certain of

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

badadjectiveUS /bæd/

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

according with custom or propriety

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

BENDverbUS /bend/

form a curve

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

brainnounUS /breɪn/

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

Clerk'snounUS /klɜːrks/

possessive form of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

compareverbUS /kəmˈper/

examine and note the similarities or differences of

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/

the legislature of the United States government

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

CourtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

curedadjectiveUS /kjʊrd/

freed from illness or injury

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/

an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

DistrictnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

easeverbUS /iːz/

move gently or carefully

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

EasternadjectiveUS /ˈiːstərn/

lying toward or situated in the east

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

EDWARDnounUS /ˈedwərd/

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

enduredverbUS /enˈdjʊrd/

past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

EnteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

execrableadjectiveUS /ˌeɡˈzekrəbəl/

of very poor quality or condition

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

Fashion'snounUS /ˈfæʃənz/

possessive form of “fashion” — how something is done or how it happens

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

FrancenounUS /fræns/

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

GRECIANadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːʃən/

of or relating to or characteristic of Greece or the Greeks or the Greek language

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

horrorsnounUS /ˈhɔːrərz/

plural of “horror” — intense and profound fear

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

I'm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

informverbUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrm/

impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

JENKINS

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

keenadjectiveUS /kiːn/

having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

MILTONnounUS /ˈmɪltən/

English poet; remembered primarily as the author of an epic poem describing humanity's fall from grace (1608-1674)

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

NorthnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

OnounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

OfficenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

pangsnounUS /pæŋz/

plural of “pang” — a sudden sharp feeling

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

ParisianadjectiveUS /pərˈɪʒən/

of or relating to or characteristic of Paris or its inhabitants

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

physicaladjectiveUS /ˈfɪzɪkəl/

involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

PRINTERnounUS /ˈprɪntər/

someone whose occupation is printing

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

readernounUS /ˈriːdər/

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

sadadjectiveUS /sæd/

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

slavenounUS /sleɪv/

a person who is owned by someone

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

spasmsnounUS /ˈspæzəmz/

plural of “spasm” — a painful and involuntary muscular contraction

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

spinalnounUS /ˈspaɪnəl/

anesthesia of the lower half of the body; caused by injury to the spinal cord or by injecting an anesthetic beneath the arachnoid membrane that surrounds the spinal cord

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

St

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

StatesnounUS /steɪts/

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

STEREOTYPER

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

stylishadjectiveUS /ˈstaɪlɪʃ/

having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

thoupronounUS /ðaʊ/

an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

TRUEadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

versenounUS /vɜːrs/

literature in metrical form

From this reading For I must inform you, O dear reader mine-- (I’m in my third verse, and indeed it is time)-- That our stylish Parisian was Fashion’s dear slave, And to its sweet service her brain and time gave.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

WhenceadverbUS /wens/

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

William

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EDWARD O. JENKINS, _PRINTER AND STEREOTYPER_, No. 20 North William St. THE TRUE GRECIAN BEND.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading A woman in France got the spinal disease, And from that sad moment she had no more ease; To add to her anguish, she very soon found, Oh, horrors! her back was becoming quite round.

yearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading “Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?”--MILTON Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of New York.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The spasms of physical pain she endured, Were keen, I assure you, and could not be cured; But bad as these were, it seems, on the whole, They could not compare with the pangs of her soul.

Chapter 1 of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse by Larry Leigh holds 95 sentences, grouped into 19 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse contain?

Chapter 1 holds 95 sentences of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse by Larry Leigh exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 95 sentences, grouped into 19 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse

Common questions about reading The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse by Larry Leigh on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse?

Yes. All 95 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #64689 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #64689, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse take to read?

About 7 minutes of reading across 19 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse section by section

How to work through The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse

Words and structures a reader meets early in The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Whence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Execrable
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shape
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Milton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The True Grecian Bend: A Story in Verse; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.